COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - James Okamoto, a 2013 Academy graduate and four-year member of the Air Force men's gymnastics team, was named to the Mountain West Scholar-Athlete list, the conference office recently announced. It is the first such honor for the Yorba Linda, Calif., native.

Okamoto, who completed his four-year academic career with a 3.50 GPA in management, holds a share of the Air Force record on the pommel horse (14.900). Despite suffering an injury right before the start of the season, the senior team captain returned to the lineup in time for the post-season and helped the Falcons to their third-straight USAG title. The 2011 USAG champion on the pommel horse, Okamoto was a four-time USAG All-American.

A conference-record 623 student-athletes were named Mountain West Scholar-Athletes for the 2012-13 academic year, including 57 from the Academy. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least two academic terms at the members institution, while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better and competing in varsity competition of an NCAA-sponsored sport.